TW; Ren has a bit of a crisis, as talk of gender comes into play. I also could not be bothered to capitalize all "i"s as i was writing this chapter. I'm Sorry. also also short chapter.

As always, I don't own Naruto

Age 3 almost 4.

There was a time that came where my new father had to bring up using… undergarments that only girls generally need to use.

Luckily he didn't. And by that i mean i overheard him talking to Mr Inoichi asking if Ino's mom could help him out and fill us in.

What's not lucky, however, is that my dysphoria would hit hard again. I could feel it just lingering in the back of my mind. My last life I had been saving for top surgery for a reason, and here I was unable to use a binder like my last life. Unless I stayed a civilian. But that wouldn't, no, couldn't, happen. Maybe I could… talk.. With someone? My emotions bubbled up in fear. I didn't want to come out again, to a family who probably had no clue what lgbt was. Hell the show never showed any sort of lgbt rep. I bet it's not even a thing in this world and yet here I am.

I quietly made my way to the front door. At this point we were mostly trusted to be around the village by ourselves as long as we told someone where we were going. I didn't have the time for that, or at least my emotions didn't. I felt my eyes swell with tears as I quietly closed the door behind me and started running. I wasn't sure where too yet but I needed to have some alone time to calm down.

I bobbed through crowds and streets with no one on them before finding a grassy area with trees. Probably a training ground of some form but I was unsure. Either way I found myself near the back of it. As I was running I saw a teen with silver hair and a covered face relaxing on the grass. Ohmygod, that had to be Kakashi.

He didn't move when I got near him. I decided to sit near him and cloud gaze with him for a bit. Just being around him felt safe.

"I'm no therapist but you look like you need help" he commented after I sniffled for the third time. if my mood wasn't so sour I'd have laughed. "... wanna talk?" he asked.

he…. he would listen. His advice might be straightforward but he would give some. I nodded in response. then after a moment of hesitation i spoke quietly.

"...im.. not a girl" i mumbled. I didn't know if this world had words for what I was saying. "but everyone says i am.. but i'm also not a boy. i don't feel like either" i finished quietly. a minute passed and i had to wonder what was happening in his mind as he processed that.

"hm" he started after a moment. "kind of like my sensei.." he replied and glanced at me for the first time. wait…. like Minato? dude hell yeah. I'm not crazy! "so.. uh.. you are around 4 right? when someone brings up bras, ask for a binder instead. they should get the hint." he said casually. "the schools will go to you and ask what your pronouns and preferred name are, but they'll word it better. unless you go to the academy, they were blunt with me. directly asking if i was trans" Kakashi mumbled the last bit, but his only visible eye seemed to smile. "You'll be fine. i promise.. and if you aren't, come find me" he sat up

I wiped my face off and smiled at him. He just helped me so much, and I was grateful. Before I could say my thanks, though, he stood and left. I stood up, new determination in my eyes before starting to head back home… but.. I think im… lost.

I turned around and started heading back the way I came, but I only ended up in more forest. I got lost through twists and turns, going deeper each time I thought I was heading the right way.

eventually night fell, and i got tired. I found a shorter tree that looked easier to climb and I went up into the branches, carefully using a small amount of chakra to keep my footing. I sat down and sighed, today had been a lot more emotional for me than many of my other days in this life. I kept most things I felt repressed so I could ease up on my dad here, but it might have been affecting my brain here. I hate being a nuisance, and I hate being loud, though all that left me when I noticed I'd probably die here because I didn't even tell anyone I left. I was a quiet and good kid, no one would think my little kiss ass persona would leave without asking. my dad probably thought i was just sleeping. He wasn't a sensor type. I mean maaybe Inoichi would notice I had left but I still doubt they'd look for me.

a familiar feeling welled up inside me, one i only felt in my past life, and it was my chest restricting, and my breath shortening, i was having a bad bout of anxiety over this? man i cant believe even after my past life ended i still carried that over.